Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing Meeting - February 3, 2025
Wilmington City Council Agenda Briefing Meeting - February 3, 2025
The Wilmington City Council held an Agenda Briefing meeting on February 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall to review the agenda for the February 4, 2025 regular council meeting. Topics included consent agenda items, public hearings, ordinances, resolutions, and presentations on the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) program and the City's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report. The meeting adjourned at 9:34 a.m.
Consent Calendar
- C1: Approval of minutes.
- C2: Resolution authorizing a new lease for fourth floor of 115 North Third Street (continued from Jan 21).
- C3: Resolution awarding citywide tree planting contract to Thorpe Landscapes for 464 trees at $382,635; suspending Richard J. Carlson LLC from future tree bids for 18 months.
- C4: Resolution authorizing city manager to apply for $235,200 grant from NC Accessible Parks Grant Program for ADA accessible playground at Fit for Fun Center.
- C5: Resolution awarding professional engineering services contract to Kittelson & Associates for $500,000 for Safe Streets and Roads for All regional safety action plan (WMPO).
- C6: Resolution awarding annual sidewalk maintenance contract to Jimco Construction for $1,052,710.
- C7: Resolution approving change in delegation of permit authority for EPA NPDES Stormwater Permit.
Public Hearings (scheduled for Feb 4)
- PH1: Ordinance to vacate/repair/demolish dwelling at 333 Mercer Avenue.
- PH2: Ordinance to repair/demolish dwelling at 4040 Appleton Way.
- PH3: Special use permit for private recreation facility at 4950 Holly Tree Road & 304 Westchester Road. City Attorney Meredith Everhart clarified that council may only consider evidence presented at the hearing; written instructions will be provided.
- PH4: Rezone 1.15 acres at 200-210 Norwood Avenue to allow accessory dwelling units.
- PH5: Rezone 27.01 acres at 4504 and 4632 Steel Meadow Drive to add 56 multi-dwelling units and amenity center.
- PH6: Ordinance to exempt surface commercial parking lots in light industrial and industrial general zoning from maximum street frontage standards.
Ordinances (scheduled for Feb 4)
- O1: Supplemental appropriation of $2,000 for lighting artwork in Riverfront Park.
- O2: Supplemental appropriation of $59,514 from committed revenue for Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Riverfront Park.
- O3: Appropriation for specialized training for two senior police captains.
Resolutions (scheduled for Feb 4)
- R1: Resolution declaring intent to participate in the C-PACE program.
Discussion Items
Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Program Update
- Sustainability Project Manager David Ingram and Larry Price (EDPNC) presented. The program, enacted July 2024, provides low-cost long-term financing for commercial property energy efficiency, resiliency, renewable energy, and water conservation improvements.
- Key points: No budget impact or liability to the city; program is cost-neutral; financing secured by property assessment; lien junior to taxes; terms up to 30 years; financing cannot exceed 35% of property value; lien stays with property until paid; local government not responsible for collection.
- Process: Resolution of Intent, Public Hearing, Final Resolution. County concurrence required if city adopts independently. New Hanover County also considering adoption. Wilmington could be first municipality in state to participate.
- Councilmember Waddell asked about scope of financing – only for qualifying improvements, not total project.
- Councilmember Joyner asked about county concurrence if city adopts before county – county must concur for program to be in effect.
- Council discussed promotion and administrative resources – minimal staff involvement.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Report
- David Ingram reported FY24 emissions spike, largely due to Skyline Center (93% of increased electricity). Other increases: fleet fuel, building fuel.
- Emissions by sector: Vehicles/Equipment 43%, Buildings/Facilities 49% (up 38%), Streetlighting/Area Lighting 7%.
- Positive: replacement of 122 area lights with LEDs (Duke Energy owned and paid for conversion); continued purchase of fuel-efficient and hybrid vehicles; reduction in surplus properties (e.g., 305 Chestnut demolished).
- Plans for FY25: Fleet EV Transition Study (grant funded, vendor selection in March), continued hybrids/EVs, energy efficiency projects at Skyline Center, reduce surplus portfolio.
- Councilmember Joyner questioned difference in cost between sodium vapor and LED lights; city does not bear cost for Duke-owned lights.
- Councilmember Andrews asked about solar lighting for stadiums/tennis courts; Director Dave Mayes cited a small solar project on Cross City Trail and plans for solar at Parks Maintenance Facility, but not yet investigated for active sports sites.
- Councilmember Andrews requested timeline for data on stadium/tennis court lighting conversion; staff responded within a week.
- Councilmember Andrews also asked about fleet transition study timeline: contract award expected at first meeting in March.
- Councilmember Andrews noted that Clean Energy Advisory Committee terms need updating – Mayor Saffo said reappointments just made, clerk will update.
Key Outcomes
- The council reviewed the agenda for the February 4 meeting; no votes were taken as this was a briefing.
- The C-PACE Resolution of Intent is scheduled for a vote at the February 4 meeting.
- The council received the Greenhouse Gas Report and discussed future energy efficiency steps.
- Councilmember Andrews directed staff to provide information on stadium/tennis court lighting conversion within a week.
- The fleet EV transition study vendor selection will be on the March 4 agenda.
- Clean Energy Advisory Committee term expiration list will be updated.
Meeting Transcript
We'll call the meeting to order. I'm going to do a roll call at this time. Mayor Pro Tem. Are you here? Here. Okay. Councilman Ravenberg. Councilmember Spears. I'm here. Okay. Councilmember Waddell. Councilmember Andrews. Here. Councilmember Joyner. Here. Chair's here. Okay. We'll start off. We have several presentations tomorrow night as you can see. First item business, consent agenda. C1 is approval of the minutes. C2 is a resolution authorizing a new lease for the fourth floor of 115 North Third Street. This was continued for my January 21st, 25 meeting. C three is a resolution awarding a citywide tree planting contract to Thorpe Landscapes of Wilmington LSE for the planting of 464 trees in the amount of 382,635 and suspending Richard J. Carlson LLC AKA Carlson's Landscaping from participating in future tree bids for 18 months. Okay. C4 is a resolution authorized city manager to apply for a 235,200 grant from the North Carolina Accessible Parks Grant Program to replace the outdoor playground at the Fit for Fund Center with an ADA accessible playground. C5 is a resolution authorizing the award of a professional engineering services contract to Kittleson and Associates, incorporating the amount of 500,000 for the development of a safe streets and roadways for all for all regional comprehensive safety action plan for the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. C6 is a resolution awarding the annual needs sidewalk maintenance contract for sidewalk rehab throughout the city to Jim Co. Construction Company Incorporated of Smithville, North Carolina, the amount of 1,052,710. C7 is a resolution approving change in delegation of permit authority for the EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit. Public hearings. PH1 is an ordinance directing the housing inspector to vacate close and repair or demolish a dwelling at 333 Mercer Avenue is unfit for human habitation pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 16 of the City Code and directing that a notice be placed there on prohibiting its use or occupancy. PH2 is an ordinance also directing the housing inspector to repair or demolish a dwelling at 4040 Appleton Way is unfit for human habitation pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 16 of the City Code and directing that a notice be placed there on prehibiting its use or occupancy. PH3 is an ordinance granting a special use permit for a private recreation facility located at 4950 Holly Tree Road and 304 Westchester Road. Yes, sir. These these are a little bit different than what we're normally seeing or at the beginning of the meeting tomorrow night. Will there be some pretty good instructions as to how this is to the people coming before to testify? Will there be some pretty good instructions on that as well as for us? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We'll we'll make sure to um to give you some. Uh I have sent out some information. I'll send you some more information and I'll make sure that the um that the mayor has a uh uh uh some information to read out to let them know why or who will be eligible to testify if you want. Okay, and will our staff be at that table to be able to answer um the questions as as yes sir, yes, sir. Staff will have presentation as well. Okay, thank you. But the only thing we're allowed to consider is what transpires in these chambers tomorrow night. Yes, sir. Um, you cannot consider anything that you've heard or received or any conversations that you've had about it outside of this meeting.
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